The Green Guide for Horse Owners and Riders : Sustainable Practices for Horse Care, Stable Management, Land Use, and Riding

Many horse lovers are looking for ways to make their facilities more environmentally friendly and to practice greener riding habits. Green methods are cost-efficient, they help preserve beautiful farms and pastures for future generations, and they provide healthier surroundings for both people and horses. The first book of its kind, The Green Guide for Horse Owners and Riders takes a clear look at current horse-care practices and provides green alternatives for day-to-day horsekeeping - both for the property owner who keeps dozens of horses and for the rider who rents a stall in someone else's barn. Property owners will find extensive information on building and renovating barns that use environmentally friendly materials, fit well into surrounding ecosystems, and work best with available water resources and prevailing weather conditions. All horsekeepers will appreciate the chapters that address the constant challenges of responsible pasture rotation and manure management. There is plenty here for the concerned rider, too. From avoiding toxins in feed, fly sprays, cleaning products, and medicines to practicing good trail-riding etiquette, anyone who spends time with horses will find simple and rewarding ways to be kinder to the earth. Author Heather Cook gives readers countless ideas for lowering the impact horses and horsekeeping facilities have on the surrounding environment. Sell composted horse manure (recycle and reuse!); replace old incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents; use empty grain bags as garbage bags. There are dozens of simple ways to make a difference every day.